Self-propelled road machine



Ap 2,' 1940. F. 0. WILSON ET AL SELF-PROPELLED ROAD cams 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1935 w m mou v iEHF E- INVENTO/ 'ld FFTED 0. Wu. so/v L Eon/HEP 6. Bonn/5 April 2, 1940,

F. D. WILSON ET AL SELF-PROPELLED ROAD IIACHINE Filed Aug. $1, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 1' N VEN 0125 FRED Q VV/LO/V [EON/7RD i Buzz/v5 April 2, 1940. F. 0. WILSON El AL I 0 SELF-PROPELLED new MACHINE Filed Aug. '31, 1936 v 12 Sheets-Sheet a I 4 I f/vvs/vrofis I FRED Q l V/LaoN A EDA/EHO 5. Ewe/v5 April 2, 1940.. F. D. WILSON ET AL r 2,195,507

SELF-PROPELLED ROAD ncunw v Filed Aug. 31, 1936 12. Sheets-Sheet 4 I 1y wen/Twas FRED Q [4 14 so/v ZEO/VH/PD 5. Bun/v5 April 2, 1940. F. D. WILSON '21: AL 2,195,607

SELF-PROPELLED ROAD MACHINE .Filed Aug. 31', 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet'6 INVENTOHJ FkED Q WILSON I [EON/9R0 & Ewe/v5 April 2, 1940. F. D. WILSON ET AL SELF-PROPELLED ROAD HACHINE 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Au 31 1' N VEN TOR'S FEED Q W/LO/V leo/vfikp 5. Ewe/v5 April 2, 1940. F. D. WILSON ET AL SELF-PROPELLED ROAD MACHINE Filed Aug. :51, 1936 I 12 sheets-sheets ,0 u M? 5 WWW Ap'ril 2,1940. F. D. WILSON ET'AL 5,60

' SELF-PROPELLED ROAD momma Filed Aug. 51, 1956 12 Sheets-Sheet 9.

IN vs/vro/es FREQ 0. H/ILSOA/ [Ea/W720 5. Bum/s- April 2, 1940. F. D. WILSON El Al. 5,

SELF-PROPELLED ROAD MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1936 l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 April 2, 1940. F. n. WILSON ET AL 5,60

SELF-PROPELLED ROAD MACHINE Filed Aug. 51, 1936 I 12 Sheets-Sheet i1 April-2, 1940. F. D. WILSON El AL SELF-PROPELLBD ROAD MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1956 12 Sheets-Sheet '12 IINVENTORS FRED 0- WILSON- [EGAN-7RD i Bun/v6 Patented Apr. 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE f SELF-PROPELLED ROAD MACHINE Fred D. Wilson and Leonard S. Burns, Aurora, 111.,-

assignors to Western-Austin Company, Aurora, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application August 31, 1936, Serial No. 98,704

21 Claims,

The present invention relates to improvements in self-propelled road machines or motor graders,

especially to the method of' applying the propelling forces to the earth moving or road working tool or tools when moving material on the road'or ground. Motor graders or self-propelled road machines, have heretofore been providedwith rear wheels self-propelled and the front wheels steerable, and with the rear wheels and front wheels self-propelled and the front wheels only steerable. This invention is a self-propelled road machine having all wheels steerable and power driven and adaptable for operation with various road working tools.

With this invention, the operator on the operator's station is able to control all the movements of the blade, especially the side shifting of the blade on its supporting means, without changing the angular relation of the blade to the road, and to independently steer the steerable front and rear power driven wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction. Thus, when the machine is moving on a straight road and the blade encounters an obstruction, such as a tree orculvert, the blade can be quickly side shifted to avoid the obstruction and then shifted back to its original position, maintaining the same plane or level of the road without retarding the forward motion of the machine.

Also, in rounding curves we are able to steer the steerable front and rear power driven wheels in opposite directions and side shift the blade on its supporting means without changing its angular relation to the ground during the forward motion of the machine, which enables us to grade the road in the same plane and also follow the curve of the road, a result that has here tofore been impossible. This, 'is also true on reverse curves.

moving the material in a lateral direction when blade is set in a position-diagonal with the line Iof'travel. Specifically, when one of these machines' is used for what is known. as oil mix' work, it is necessary for a substantial windrow of material to be transferred laterally of the roadway, as it is the turning over process that is.

- relied uponto properly mix the material. When doing this work it is not only desirable but necessary that the position of the point, or front end of the blade, be well outside of both front wheels in order to avoid the necessity of propelling the front wheels, or wheel, through the loose material, which increases the draft'and wear on the machine and also causes the lade to travel on an irregular horizontal plane. With the blade laterally adjusted to the necessary position outlined above, it will be obvious, due to the extended or overhanging position of the blade beyond oneside of the rear propelling wheels, that the work being done (material 'being moved) at the point ofthe blade often tends to severely influence the course of the machine by creatinga distinct side twist" to the entire machine and causing tire wear and loss of tractive power.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a self-propelled road machine adapted to offset the tendency of the above mentioned side forces to turn'the machine from its course. We have-accomplished this by providing the rear propelling wheels with means for steering them to'either side of the path of the front wheels; we point out too that the front or steering wheels are also propelling wheels in our machine. By having both the front and rear wheels steerable and at the same time propelling wheels, it will be obvious that by adjusting the rear wheels to travel a path to either side of the path of the front wheels, we are enabled to .increase the width of what we term the traction base" or to have selective traction range to any reasonable desired extent. The "traction base or selective traction range referred to is the width of the horizontal plane upon which the rear and front wheels travel; that is, the distance on the horizontal plane between the left rear wheel and the right front wheel, or vice versa, depending upon the adjustment of the front and rear wheels in relation to the main frame.

By having a machine provided with means for increasing the widthof the traction base" or what'is known as selective traction range, it will be observed that. we are enabled to always arrange a traction wheel, or wheels, directly, or

have selective traction range for increasing or decreasing the width of the traction base of the wheels to provide resistance against the side shifting of the machine during its forward move= ment. Selective traction range is new in the self-propelled motor grader field and is, beyond doubt, a forward step in'a combination of elements which have produced new-results.

Another object of this invention is to provide a inachine that will cause the blade to travel on a regular horizontal plane instead of an irregular horizontal plane and reduce tire wea and loss of tractive power.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine that will be particularly eflicient in connection with snow removal, in which case the front propelling wheels may serve as a principal propelling and lateral means for a snow plow mounted to precede them; the blade being shifted horizontally and the "traction base or selective traction range adjusted so that the rear propelling wneels are the principal propelling and laterally controlling forces for the heel of the blade, permitting the cutting of a much wider path than is possible with snow plows attached to conventional motor graders.

Another object of this invention is to provide a motor grader or self-propelled road machine with a pair of steerable and' propelling wheels at the front and rear end of the machine, and steering means for steering the front and rear power driven wheels independently or in unison for the purpose of cutting sharp curved ditches and scraping curved banks, or to move material on reverse curved roads from the right side to the left side of the road machine or from the left side to the right side of the road machine on successive curves during the forward movement of the road machine.

Another object of this invention isto provide a self-propelled road machine with control means at the operators station to enable the operator to steer the front and rear steerable power driven wheels and side shift the blade, consecutively or together, in grading the road on reverse curves, and to maintain the same grade or slope at all points of the road, and to apply the tractive effort of the power driven wheels where it is most needed.

Another object of thisinvention is the provision of a four-Wheel drive, four-wheel steer motor grader having a power plant mounted above and to the rear of the rear propelling axle.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of resilient means supporting the power transmission unit in an auxiliary frame on the main frame, thus reducing vibration in frame and preventing frame twists from being transferred to the motor. Another object of this invention is the novel means shown for making the diagonal adjustment of the rear wheels by power from the operators station.

A further object of this invention is the provision of novel and practical means for lateral adjustment of the blade on its supporting arms by power at the will of the operator without his leaving the operator's station. A

Another object of thisinvention 'is the provision of the lateral blade adjustment means whereby the cutting angle of the blade is not affected when said adjustment is made.

Another object of this invention is the. provision of lateral blade adjustment whereby the operator can make the adjustment while the machine is in operation without changing the plane of the cutting bit.

A further object of this invention is the novel power transmission or power take-off means con- 5 necting the motor to both front and rear driving wheels whereby, if desired, a portion of the transmission means can be removed and the front driving wheels replaced with the conventional type of steering non-driving wheels. 10

Another object of this invention is the provision of steerable rear propelling wheels, with steering means of either manual or power control.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the direction of the pro- 15 pelling forces to the earth moving or road working tool when moving material on the road or ground will always be parallel to the direction of travel which is true when the front and rear steerable power driven wheels are parallel to the center line of the frame of the machine, as well as when the center line of the frame is in diagonal relation to the direction of travel and the front and rear steerable power driven wheels are in the same angular relation with the center line of the frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide hydraulic power means to steer the front and rear steerable power driven wheels separately or together in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a road machine having all wheels self-propelled and steerable, adapted for operation with various road working tools, such as scarifiers, snow plows, drags, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine with greater capacity for moving material in a direction at right angles to the line of travel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a road machine whereby all the controls can be operated with mechanical power. hydraulic power, or manually, from the operator's station.

Further objects of this invention are to pro.- vide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, while we have showntherein a preferred embodiment,

it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of our invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the motor grader or self-propelled road machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 with cab removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front view 'of the motor grader showing front axle and wheels.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the rear power driven steerable wheels and supporting means.

Figure 5 is a partial cross section at 55 in I Fig. 3 showing the method of supporting the front axle to the frame.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the gooseneck and circle with blade in horizontal position showing the hydraulic cylinder and the blade revolving means.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the gooseneck and 75 v 2,195,807 .circle with blade shown in two angular positions,

and also the position of the hydraulic cylinders and pistons.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross section of circle and goose neck at 9-9 in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross section of Figure 2 at 0 in Fig. 6 with one raising and lowering hydraulic cylinder cross section and the blade side shifting cylinder in cross section;

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure at showing blade supporting member 59.

Figure 12 is a cross section of Figure 10 at l2-|2.

Figure 13 is a cross section of Figure 10 at |3|3.

Figure 14 is a cross section of Figure 10 at Figure 15 is an enlarged portion of the power take-off or transmission shown in Figure 1.

Figure 16 is an end view of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a partial plan view of Figures 15 and 16.

Figure 18 is a cross section of Figure l6 at l8|8.

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the rear sectionof Figure 1 showing the mounting of the power plant and power take-ofi or transmission.

Figure 20 is an end view of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a plan view of Figure 19.

Fig. 22 is a cross section of Figure 19'taken at 22--22 showing the power plant mounting means. Figure 23 is a section of Figure 19 taken at 23-2-3 showing the power plant mounting means.

Figure 24 is an outline plan view of a motor grader showing relative positions of blade frame and wheels for maintenance.

Figure 25 is an outline-plan view of a motor grader showing relative positions of blade frame and wheels when ditching.

Figure 26 is an outline plan view of a motor grader showing the relative positions of blade frame and wheels when grader is used for transferring a windrow of material from the side of the road towards the center of the road.

Figure 2'7 is a plan view showing the hydraulic power control, cylinders and connections thereto as applied to the motor grader.

Figure 28 is an outline plan view of the motor grader showing the position of the wheels and frame when cutting ditches on a curve.

Figure 29 is an outline plan view of the motor grader showing the application of the snow plow and blade when the longitudinal center line of the frame is at an angle to the direction of travel.

Figure 30 is a cross sectional viewof the forward part of the snow plow and motor grader.

Referring to the drawings, the road machine comprises a main frame which may be of any suitable construction and is designated in'its entirety, being supported on front power driven steerable wheels 2 and rear power driven steerable wheels 3. The front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2'and 3 are .mounted on the having a conventional type transmission I and gear shift 8. At the front of the conventional type transmission 1 is mounted power take-off 4 or transmission 9, details of which are shown in Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 and a more complete description will be given later.

Forwardly and rearwardly of the power takeoff or transmission 9 are power transmission shafts l0 and II, which are connected to and 'drive the front driving axle 4 and the rear driv ing axle 5, respectively. Transmission shafts I0 or II may be disconnected from power take ofi or transmission 9, if it is desired to apply a conventional type non-driving, axle in place of either of the power driven axles 4 and 5.

The front and rear power driven. steerable wheels 2 and 3 are propelled through universal joints 26 and are vertically pivotedat 21 to permit steering,

At the center of the front and back of front driving axle 4, projections l2 are connected to main frame I by brackets I3 and pins I4. See Figures 3 and 5. This permits axle 4 to oscillate or adjust itself to the contour of the road or ground as shown in dotted lines. See Figure 3. Rear driving axle 5 is bolted to main frame I by bolts 5,'as shown in Figure 4.

The internal combustion engine or power plant 6, including radiator 28, conventional transmission 1, power take-01f or transmission 9 and hydraulic pump 29, is bolted by bolts 30 to a rectangular auxiliary supporting frame 3|, consisting of front and rear angles 32 and 33 and side angles 34 and 35. The auxiliary supporting frame 3| and the above described power plant 6, radiator 28 and hydraulic pump 29 are suspended on rubber or any other resilient material 35 and mounted in brackets 31 and 38, which are fastened to main frame I by bolts or rivets 39. Bolts and 4| fasten the auxiliary supporting 7 frame 3| to brackets 31 and 38.

The preferred design of the power take-off or transmission 9'is shown in Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 but other designs can be used which will be within the scope of the claims.

On the extension of the splined main shaft 42 of conventional transmission I is mounted gear 43, and "the outer end of the main shaft 42 is supported in roller or ball bearings 44 mounted in gear case 45.

Gear 43 drives the train of gears 45, 41 and 48.

Gear 46 is mounted on a splined shaft 49 which extends forwardly and drives transmission shaft l0 through the universal joint 52, and shaft 49 is mounted on roller or ball bearings 44 in gear case 45.

Gear 48 is mounted on splined shaft 5|, which extends rearwardly and drives transmission shaft through universal joint 53, and splined shaft 5| is mounted on roller or ball bearings 44 in gear case 45.

Gear 41 is an idler and is used to reverse the Gear case 45 is bolted to the conventional" transmission housing screws 55.

By the above description it can readily be seen that either transmission shafts ID or H can be readily detached from splined shafts 49 and 5|, respectively.

Suspended on either side of the main frame I by cross channel la are hydraulic cylinders l6 and lid mounted in ball and socket joints l1 an IB, respectively.

Piston rods |9 of hydraulic cylinders l6 and lEa are attached by ball and socket joints 20 and 2| to gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22 or box 54 by bolts or stud through cross beam 22a and angles 23, angles 23 being attached by rivets or bolts 24 to cross beam The front end of gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22 has a ball joint 55 which is avtached to the main frame I by socket 51.

Supporting and guiding circle 58 are brackets 22b, which are riveted or bolted to gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22,

Circle 58 is rotated by two double acting hydraulic cylinders 8| and 82; Each end of cylinders GI and 62 is connected to gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22 by pins or bolts 83, and piss ton rods 64 and 85 are connected to the crank or lever 58 by pins or bolts 88. Welded to the crank or lever 86 is pin 69 which rotates in bearings of cross beam. 22a. The crank or lever 88 has an extension 81 welded to crank or lever 98.

Extension 61 is connected to links I9 by pin or bolt II and links I9 are connected to the circle 58 by pins or bolts I2 through lug 5811, which is weldedto the circle 58.

Attached to circle 58 by welding, riveting or bolting are blade supporting members 59 and 89. At the lower end of blade supporting members 59 and 89 is welded tube I5. The blade and bit I3 have lugs 89 through which rod I4 is attached and is supported and slides in tube I5.

The upper end of blade and bit I3 has lugs 8| to which rod I9 is attached, and rod I9 is supported and slides in tube I8. To each end of tube I8 is welded adjusting member 82 having corrugations 83 and slots 84.

Eye bolts 16 are fastened to blade supporting members 59 and 99 by nuts and lock washers. Adjusting member 82 is attached to eye bolt I8 by bolt 11.

For side shifting of blade and bit I3 on its blade supporting members 59 and 89, double acting hydraulic cylinder 85 is attached to blade supporting member 59 by cylinder head 99, which has a convex surface having projections 9| threaded for nut 93. The convex surface of cylinder head 99 contacts the concave surface of washer 94.

On the opposite side of the blade supporting member 59 is a similar washer 94, washer 92 having one surface convex and the other flat.

Nut 93 is attached to the projecting member 9| and tightened against the flat surface of washer 92. This allows the double acting hydraulic cylinder to oscillate.

Piston rod 88 is connected to ball 81 by socket 89. Ball 81 is welded to the blade and bit I3.

Anti-chattering bar 95 is connected to the cross beam 22a by bolt and nut 98 which pass through washer 98, thimble 91, cross beam 2241, spring 99 and washer I99.

Thimble 9I limits the space-betweenthe cross beam 22a and anti-chattering bar 95. Adjustment is made by tightening or loosening nut or bolt 95.

At the rear end of gooseneckor blade supporting frame 22 is welded round members I92, to which is attached an A frame guide III. The opposite end of A frame guide I M is connected to main frame I atthe lugs I95 by eye bolt I93 and bolt or pin I94. Lugs I95 are located at various positions on either side of the center of main frame I. This construction permits the vertical movement and side adjustment of theA frame guide IN, and the combination of round member I92 and eye bolt I93 permits the gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22 to have a vertical movement and also a twisting movement.

,Either mechanical, hydraulic or manual means Manual means is shown in our drawings, consisting of the usual unlocking rod I98 connected may be used to cause side movement of A frame guide I9I and gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22.

A double acting hydraulic cylinder can be attached to main frame I and the piston rod can 5 V the working of the tool by any of the conventional methods, manual, mechanical or hydraulic.

to unlocking lever I91 which has a jaw for attaching lock pin I98 to lever I91 by bolt or pin I99.

Lock pin I98 engages one of the holes H9 in 2 circle 58. A pull on unlocking rod I96 and a turn of degrees on unlocking lever I9'I lifts lock pin I98 out of engagement with circle 88. This permits its rotation.

A push on rod I96 will return lever I91 back 25 to its original position and locking pin I98 will engage the circle in holes H9 and prevent rotation.

The steering of front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 is accomplished by dou- 3 ble acting hydraulic cylinders III and H2, respectively. Cylinders III and 2' are attached to main frame I at H6 and III by pins or ball and socket joints.

The power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 have 35 the usual steering levers H3 and drag links II4 connected by pins 1. One of the steering levers II3 of the front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 has an extension II5 to which is attached piston rod I I9 by pins I I8, or a ball and 40 socket joint may be used.

Figure 27 shows a schematic layout of the hydraulic control system. Oil tank I26 is mountedv in the front of operators station I42 and is connected to pump 29 by pipe lines- I28 and I29. 4 Power plant 9 supplies power to operate pump 29.

The control valves I29, I2I, I22, I23, I24 and I25 arelocated on top of oil tank I28 at operators station I42 and in front of the operator.

'To steer the front power driven steerable 5 wheels 2, valve I24 is moved forward or back ward from the neutral position, admitting oil under pressure from pump 29 to either end of the piston of cylinder III through pipe lines I32 front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 60 and 3 can be synchronized by hydraulic means and operated by one control valve, and the front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 can be turned or steered in the same direction (see Figures 24, 25 and26) or in the opposite di- 65 rection (see Figure 28).

Further, the front or rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 can be manually controlled or steered by the use of any one of the conventional steering devices, or we could use a com- 70 bination of a hydraulic steering device for the front power driven steerable wheels 2 and a manually controlled steering device for the rear power driven steerable wheels 3.

The revolving of circle 58 with blade supporting members. and and blade 13 is accomplished by two cylinders GI and 02, having the front end of cylinder connected by pipe or handle of valve I2I forward or backward, de-

pending on the direction of rotation required.

The side shifting of blade I3 on the supporting members 59 and 60 is controlled by valve I23, which admits oil by pipe or hose lines I40 and I to either side of the piston of cylinder by moving the handle of valve I23 forward or backward, depending on the direction that blade I3 is to be shifted.

The raising and lowering of gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22, circle 58 and blade I3 is accomplished by hydraulic cylinders I8 and I6a. Cylinder bodies I6 and IE0 are supported by ball and socket joints I1 and I8 on cross channel I a, and piston rods 9 are connected to cross beam 220. of gooseneck or blade supporting frame 22 by ball and socket joints 20 and 2|.

Control valve I20 admits oil to the upper or lower side of the piston of cylinder I6 through pipe or hose lines I36 and I3! and the moving of valve I20 either forward or backward will raise or lower the-left hand side of the blade and its supporting means, thereby controlling the vertical position of blade I3.

Likewise, cylinder Ilia is controlled by valve I25, which admits oil to either side of the piston of cylinder I5a through pipe or hose I38 and I39.

Both right and left sides of blade I3 can be raised together, or one side can. be lowered and the other raised, or vice versa, all. being under the control of the operator located at operator's station I42.

All the hydraulic control means or valves are located within easy reach of and in front of the operator at operator's station I42, and the operator has full control of all the necessary movements of the blade and its supporting means, and the steering of the front and rear power driven steerable wheels, thus eliminating the necessity of the operator stopping the machine or'grader and leaving the station to perform any of the above mentioned movements.

Figure 24 shows the position of the power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3, frame I and blade I3 when performing the ordinary maintaining of a road, and the direction of the force exerted by front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 is parallel to the direction of travel of the grader.

Figure 25 shows the position of power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 when ditching and bringing material up from said ditch and distributing it on the center of the road. Since all wheels 2 and 3 are power driven'and steerable, the force exerted by power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 is also parallel to the direction of travel, right front wheel 2 and the left rear wheel 3 are opposite their respective ends of blade I3, and frame I is at an angle to the direction of travel. I

Figure 26 shows the position of front and rear power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3, blade 13, and main frame I when the power propelled road grader, with all wheels steerable and power propelled, is being used in moving windrows of any kind of material, such as oil mix or gravel, from the right hand side of the road to the center of the road and power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 are all set at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the frame so that right front wheel 2 does not run in the windrow of material being handled and left rear wheel 3 also clears the new windrow of material being deposited near the center of the road. The longitudinal center line of the grader frame is at an angle to the direction of travel and the force exerted by the wheels to move the material is in a direction parallel to the direction of travel. In the above, the'blade I3. has been shifted to the right on its supporting members 59 and 60, thereby putting a greater portion of blade "I3 on the right side.

Due to the combination of, a power driven road grader, all wheels being power driven andsteerable, we have produced a new result whereby the tractive force exerted by the power driven steerable wheels is always parallel to the direction of travel of the machine whenthe front and rear wheels are parallel to'the center line of the frame or when the front and rear wheels are set at the same angular relation to the center line of the frame, which fact is very self-evident if reference is made to Figures 24, 25 and 26. These figures illustrate the method of increasing or decreasing the width of the traction base", which is known as selective traction range. By-the use of selective traction range, side slippage of the wheels when moving material is eliminated.

Figure 28 shows what can be accomplished by the application of this new motor grader, with all wheels power driven and steerable, to moving material on curves. The wheels travel in a curved line and prevent side slipping.

Figures 29 and 30 show the application of a snow plow I 43 to the power propelled steerable wheeled grader. Snow plow I43 is attached to the front end of a downward projection of main frame I, or any other suitable means, by a V- shape member having a ball and socket I49. The opposite ends of the V-shape member are attached to snow plow I43 by rivets or bolts at I55. Ball and socket joint I49 permits the snow plow I43 to. have vertical movement as well as horizontal movement.

Cylinder I48 is mounted on main frame I by ball and socket joint I45 and piston rod I 41 is connected to snow plow I43 by ball and socket I45. Cylinder I48 will move snow plow I43 in a sidewise direction. Cylinder I50 is mounted on main frame I by ball and socket ,I52, and piston rod I54 is connected to the upper end of snow plow I43 by ball and socket I53, the ends of ball and socket I53 being welded, or secured by any other means,

accomplished by admitting oil to either side of the piston of cylinder I50 and the direction of movement is controlled by hydraulic valve means located at operator's station I42.

'Snow plow I43 is moved radially by the application of oil to either side of the piston of cylinder I48 and the direction is controlled by the hydraulic valve means located at operators station I42.

Plan view Figure 29 shows that the direction of the force exerted by the power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 is parallel to the direction of travel, although the longitudinal center line of main frame I is at an angle to the direction of travel. By the power being exerted parallel to the direction of travel, sidewise shifting is prevented.

By the use of the combination shown in Figure 29, the blade and bit I3 has been shifted to the left of the center line of circle 58 and thus the snow moved by snow plow I43 will be moved still farther laterally by the blade and bit 13. It is also possible to reverse the direction of the snow by steering power driven steerable wheels 2 and 3 in the opposite direction and reversing the side shift of the blade and bit 13.

A straight blade snow plow may be substituted for V-shape snow plow I43 and the control will besimilar.

From the description of the invention, it is readily seen that other combinations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination with a road grading machine, comprising a frame, front and rear power driven axles on which the/frame is mounted, front and rear steerable power driven wheels mounted on" said axles, a blade with hydraulic means to raise, lower, rotate and side shift the blade supported from said frame, hydraulic cylinders connected to the frame with piston rods fastened to the steering members of the front and rear wheels, a'power plant with hydraulic pump mounted on said frame, an auxiliary power takeoff or transmission mounted on said power plant, transmission shafts connected forwardly and rearwardly to the auxiliary power take-off or transmission, the opposite ends of said transmission shafts being connected to the front and rear power driven axles to transmit power to the front and rear steerable power driven wheels, an operators station on said machine, hydraulic control means at the operator's station to independently control the said front and rear wheels and to steer the said front and rear wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction to control the traction base of the said wheels.

2. In a self-propelled road grading machine, in combination, an elongated frame, a road working blade supported by the said frame and adapted for rotative, vertical and horizontal adjustment, a set of independently steerable power driven wheels supporting each end of the said frame, an operator's station on the machine, steering mechanism at the operator's station to steer each set of wheels independently or together in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

3. In combination with a self-propelled road grader, a main frame supported at the front and rear by independently steerable pairs of power driven wheels, a power plant mounted on the said main frame and connection made therefrom to the front and rear axles for driving the front and rear steerable power driven wheels, an auxiliary frame or gooseneck with means for raising, lowering and side shifting said auxiliary frame or gooseneck attached to said main frame, a circle, blade supporting members and blade and means for rotating the circle and blade supporting members and blade relative to the said auxiliary frame or gooseneck and supported by said auxiliary frame, side shifting means attached to the said blade supporting members and blade, an operators station mounted on said main frame, control means at the operator's station for selectively and independently controlling the movement of the blade, auxiliary frame or gooseneck and to independently steer each pair of steerable power driven wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction while the grader is in motion.

4.-In a road machine, in combination, an

elongated frame supported at each end by steerable driving wheels, a motor carried by the frame and suitably connected to drive the said wheels, a

road working blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade mounted between the ends of the frame, an auxiliary blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the auxiliary blade, supported by the front end of the frame, an operator's station mounted on said frame, independent means at the operators station to simultaneously or independently control the movements of the blade and the auxiliary blade and to control the said wheels and to steer the said front and rear wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

5. In a self-propelled road grading machine, in combination, an elongated frame, a road working blade with hydraulic means for rotative, vertical and horizontal'adjustment supported by the frame, a set of steerable power driven wheels with hydraulic steering means connecting said steerable power driven wheels and frame supporting each end of the frame, an operator's station with independent hydraulic control means mounted on said frame, said independent hydraulic control means. operable from the operator's station for controlling the adjustment of the road working blade and steering each set of steerable power driven wheels independently or together to conv trol the width of the traction base.

machine, having a frame, front and rear independently steerable pairs of power driven wheels supporting said frame, a blade supported by said frame with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade, an operator's station on the machine, control means at the operators station to control each pair of wheels independently and to steer the pairs of wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

7. In combination with a self-propelled road machine, having a frame, front and rear independently steerable pairs of power driven wheels supporting said frame, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating .and side shifting said blade supported by said frame, an operator's station mounted on said frame, independent control means at the operator's station to control all the positions of the blade and the steering of the said front and rear wheels, to move material on reverse curved roads from the right side to the left side of the road machine or the reverse, on successive curves during the forward movement of the road machine.

8. In combination with a self-propelled road machine, having a frame, a pair of front and rear steerable power driven wheels supporting said frame, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting said blade supported by said frame, an operator's station mounted on said frame with independent control means to control the position of. the said front and rear pairs of wheels, applying the tractive effort of the said pairs of wheels in the direction of travel of the machine preventing the side slipping of said road machine while the center line of the frame is at an angle to the direction of travel.

9. In a self-propelled road machine, in combination, having an elongated frame, front and rear steerable pairs of power driven wheels supporting said frame, a road working blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade supported by the frame, an operators station on the machine, power control means at the operator's station to raise,

lower, rotate and side shift the blade and to control the width of the traction base of the front and rear pairs of steerable power driven wheels while the grader is in motion.

10. A self-propelled grader, in combination, a frame, front and rear independently steerable sets of power driven wheels supporting'said frame, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade supported by said frame, an auxiliary blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the auxiliary blade supported by said frame ahead of the said front wheels, a *power plant with means connected thereto to propel the front and rear steerable power driven wheels mounted on the rear of the frame, an operators station mounted .on the frame in front of the power plant and in the rear of the blade, control means at the operators station to control each set of wheels independently and to steer the front and rear sets of wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction to select the width of the traction base of said wheels.

11. In combination with a self-propelled road machine, having a frame, front and rear steerable power driven wheels with hydraulic steering means supporting said frame, a blade with hydraulic means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade supported by said frame, a power plant and hydraulic pump mounted on said frame in back of said blade, an operators station mounted on said frame between the power plant and said blade with independent hydraulic control means to control the positions of the blade and to independently steer the front I and rear steerable power driven wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction for selective traction range. v

; 12. A self-propelled road machine, in combination, a frame, two independently controlled steerable power driven wheel units supporting said frame at the front and rear, a power, plant mounted on the machine with propelling means connected to the said front and rear wheel units to propel the same, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting said blade mounted on the frame between said wheel units, an operators station on the machine, independent control means at said operators station to independently control the positions of the blade and to steer the front and rear steerable power driven wheel units in the same direction or in the op-v posite direction.

13. A self-propelled road grader, in combination, having two independently controlled steerable power driven wheel units, a frame connecting and supported by said wheel units, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade mounted on said frame between said wheel units, an operators station mounted on said frame between said wheel units and at the rear of the blade, means at said operators station to steer the wheels of said units to widen the traction base and apply power behind the forward end of the blade and in front of the rear end of the blade or reverse when said blade and the center line of said frame are at an angle to the direction of travel. l

'14. In aself-propelled road machine, in combination, a frame, front and rear independently steerable power driven wheels supporting said frame, a blade with power means to raise, lower, rotate and side shift the blade supported by said frame, an operators station on said machine, power control means at the operators station to independently steer the said front wheels or rear wheels, or all said wheels simultaneously, in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

15.-In a self-propelled road machine, in combination, a frame, front and rear independently steerable power driven wheels supporting said frame, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade supported by said frame, an operators station on the machine, control means at the operators station to steer the said front and rear steerable power driven wheels in the same direction and in the same angular relation to the center line of the frame and to control the width of the traction base of said wheels, and to apply the tractive effort of said wheels parallel to the direction of travel.

16. In combination with a self-propelled road machine, having a frame, front independently steerable pairs of wheels and rear independently station to control each pair of wheels independently and to steer the pairs of wheels in the'same direction or in the opposite direction.

1'7. In combination with a self-propelled machine, having a frame, front and rear independently steerable pairs of power driven wheels with power steering means supporting said frame, an earth working tool supported by said frame with power means for, raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting said earth working tool, an operators station on the machine, power control means at the operators station to control the raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting of said earth working tool and each pair of wheels independently and to steer the pairs of wheels in the same direction or in theopposite direction.

18. In combination with a self-propelled machine, having a frame, front and rear independently steerable pairs of power driven wheels with power steering means supporting said frame, an earth working tool supported by said frame with power means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting said earth working tool, an auxiliary earth'working tool supported by said frame ahead of the said front wheels with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the auxiliary earth working tool, an operators station on the machine, power control means at the operators station to control all the movements of the said earth working tools and each pair of wheels independently. and to steer the pairs of wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

19. A self-propelled'grader, in combination, a main frame, front and rear independently steerable sets of power driven wheels supporting said main frame, a blade with means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade supported by said frame, a V-shaped blade with means for raising, lowe ing, rotating and side shifting the V-shaped blade supported by said frame ahead of the said front wheels, a power plant with means connected thereto to propel the front and rear steerable power driven wheels mounted on the rear of the frame, an operators station mounted on the frame in front of the Power plant and in the rear of the blade, control means at the operators station to control all the movements of the blade and the V-shaped blade and each set of wheels independently and to steer the front and rear sets of wheels in the same di- 75 rection or in the opposite direction to select the width of the traction base of the said wheels.

' 20. A self propelled road machine, in combination, a main frame, oscillating front and fixed rear power driven axles supporting said main frame, steerable pairs of power driven wheels with power steering means mounted on said axles, a blade supported by said frame with power means for raising, lowering, rotating and side shifting the blade, an operators station on the machine, power control means at the operators station to control all the movements of the blade and each pair of the said wheels independently and to steer thepairs of wheels in the same direction or in the opposite direction.

21. A self propelled road machine, in combination, an elongated main frame, front andrear steerable power driven wheels supporting said ammo:

main frame, an auxiliary supporting frame with resilient means under said auxiliary frame mounted on said mainframe, a power plant mounted on said auxiliaryframeand suitably 

